Council approves chief

MIDDLETOWN - It was Lynn Baldoni's day in the sun, and she will get her chance to shine as the city's new police chief.

The common council unanimously approved the appointment of Baldoni in front of more than a hundred people, many of them her officers.

The police department has been without a "leader" since March 17, when Police Chief Edward J. Brymer was placed on administrative leave. On Monday, a leader was appointed who many think will competently lead the department into the future.

The promotion of Baldoni comes a little more than two months after Brymer and the city reached an agreement that allows Brymer to retire with a full pension.

Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano had tried to fire Brymer, but eventually the two sides agreed to a compromise that allowed Brymer to retire.

The department is also facing the impending departure of Deputy Police Chief Phil Pessina.

"The police department is a better police department," said Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh about the direction of the department under Baldoni.

He added, "She has gone above and beyond her duties as an officer."

McHugh noted that Baldoni has had 23 years of experience, is a civic leader and is a Middletown resident.

The council and many members supported Baldoni because she lives in the city and also because she came up through the ranks.

Pessina stood up for Baldoni, much the same as he did at the previous meeting, giving her his full support.

He told the story of a coin that he received at a leadership conference. On the coin, a message urged people to do the right thing.

"You are doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason," said Pessina. "Lynn, I am supporting you because it is important for the community."

One resident told the council not only to support Lynn now, but also to support her later.

"I thank you today because it is going to be tomorrow when you are going to need to support this," said resident Joan Engles.

When the public comment was finished, the council asked Baldoni questions on where she would take the department.

Robert P. Santangelo asked Baldoni how she will try to improve technology and staffing.

Baldoni discussed improvements in the computer-aided dispatch system and the record system.

She wants her officers to be able to access information quicker and easier.

She also wants technology that would allow her officers to stay in their cruisers and type up reports, allowing them to stay in the field longer.

She said that she wanted to add staff and that she

currently has vacancies in the department. She plans to do the hiring at a rate that would be least harmful to the

taxpayers.

When asked if she would make a major change, Baldoni told the council that she will establish a mission.

"We need to define a mission and live by it," Baldoni said.

She said that way the officers would know what is expected of them. She would then tell the public that mission, so they knew what to expect of their officers.

The council also raised the question of Lynn's salary, which will stay at $99,000, the same rate she was making as acting chief.

After the question session, the council got their chance to tell Baldoni how they really felt.

All of them took the choice to publicly state that they endorsed Baldoni.

"If I had it my way, we would had you chief two weeks ago," council member and Deputy Mayor Joseph Bibisi said.

On Sept. 29, Sebastian N. Giuliano nominated Lynn Baldoni for the position of police chief.

However, the common council still had to appoint her. Giuliano had hopes of fast-tracking the appointment, but encountered a wall.

On Oct. 2, Council Majority Leader Tom J. Serra had

problems - not with

Baldoni, but with the process itself.

"We usually get a week or a week and a half (to review the agenda and study its contents)," Serra said.

He added that to have a nomination made on Friday and vote on Monday was not enough time.

In the end, Baldoni could only say that she was "elated." She did, however, have her hands full.

After a standing ovation and time spent shaking the hands of all the council members, a reception line of people greeted Baldoni.

One of the people who approached her was Serra, who told her that his actions at the last meeting were not politically motivated, he just wanted her to "get her day in the sun." And in the end, she got her day.

To contact Joseph Wenzel IV, call him at (860) 347-3331, ext. 222, or e-mail him at jwenzel@middletownpress.com.